Ochyra, R., Lewis Smith, R.I., & Bednarek-Ochyra, H The Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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2 19 March 2009 Prof. Rodney D. Seppelt Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston 7050, Tasmania, Australia. Phone (03) After Hours (03) Fax (03) Review of: Ochyra, R., Lewis Smith, R.I., & Bednarek-Ochyra, H The Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Approximately 99% of the 14 million km 2 of the Antarctic Continent is ice covered. The terrestrial flora is dominated by lichens and bryophytes (mostly mosses). Mosses are important in the colonization of these ice-free areas, for organic matter accumulation, release of organic nutrients, and as a habitat resource for invertebrates. The moss flora of the Antarctic region, including both Continental and Maritime Antarctic regions, now includes some 111 species and 2 varieties. As noted by the authors: the taxonomic status of many taxa and collections was very imprecise and controversial. As a result, most published ecological, biogeographic or comparative studies contain misleading or inaccurate information and, further, with increasing research on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and their biota in Antarctica, especially with regard to physiological tolerances and responses to changing climate, there is an urgent need for the moss flora to be revised. This is the first comprehensive with the emphasis on comprehensive revision of the moss flora of the entire Antarctic biome. Prof. Ochyra is to be congratulated on his thoroughness, examining more than 10,000 recent and historical collections, including all locatable type collections. As a result of this detailed and painstaking work, there is a long list of taxonomic novelties, including: 120 new synonyms (with 10 at the level of Order or Family), 8 new epitypes selected, 216 new lectotypes, 2 new neotypes chosen, and 4 new combinations or status designated. The introductory section of the book extends for some 58 pages and includes a discussion of biogeographic zones, climate, geology, a history of muscological investigations, features of the terrestrial environment, habitat environmental extremes, and conservation issues. A chapter on diversity and phytogeography includes 42 colour plates which depict habitats and some fine examples of the moss flora. Antarctica valued, protected and understood 203 Channel Highway Kingston Tasmania 7050 Australia ABN GST registered Phone (03) International Fax (03)

3 The systematic account of the moss flora occupies by far the bulk of the text some 531 pages. A key to the 55 genera in 17 families follows an outline conspectus of Classes, Orders, Families, genera and species. Keys to the species are provided, where appropriate, as a prelude to specific generic treatments. This taxonomic treatment is very detailed and thorough, reflecting the senior author s deep passion for bryophytes, comprehensive knowledge, and thorough comprehension or the plethora of historical nomenclatural misinterpretations. If nothing else, Prof. Ochyra will long be remembered for his significant and substantial contributions in clarifying a multitude of bryological nomenclatural anomalies. Apart from the very comprehensive descriptions of the species, what is so useful with this flora is the discussion of species variability and relationships. Modern systematic studies have relied heavily on molecular genetics. While many of these studies have aided in the clarification of phylogenetic anomalies, the outcomes are not always unequivocal. It is refreshing to be presented with such a detailed account of the moss flora of the Antarctic region that has relied entirely on classical morphological studies but which has drawn on, but not necessarily always accepted, the conclusions of molecular based phylogenetics. Of great value to this work is the beautiful and comprehensive suite of illustrations accompanying each species, prepared by Halina Bednarek-Ochyra. There should be no reason to doubt the determination of any species of the Antarctic moss flora with the combination of comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, and discussion of similar or related taxa. For such a comprehensive, lengthy and detailed work, there are very few typographical errors in the text either spelling or grammatical. This is remarkable considering the taxonomic component, the bulk of the work, has been put together by two authors for whom English is not their primary language. I have only a few very minor criticisms relating to the authors interpretations or their use of language. For example: Campylopus introflexus is listed on p.49 as a strict bipolar element. As this moss is a comparatively recent introduction to the northern hemisphere from Australasia, its bipolar distribution is modern, not historical, even though it is rapidly extending its range in the northern hemisphere. My personal preference would be to use the terms inner and outer rather than dorsal and ventral for the surfaces of peristome teeth, and abaxial rather than dorsal and adaxial rather than ventral for leaf surfaces. In discussing the relationships of Schistidium antarctici (p.259) with S. leptoneuron, it is mentioned that the leaves of the former are 5-ranked, but in the description they are correctly cited as 3-4-ranked. My major criticisms of this book are reserved not for the authors or the presentation of the text, but for Cambridge University Press. Considering that the text was formatted and prepared in Poland and presented as camera-ready copy, one wonders why the cost of this work is so prohibitively high. This is an essential and most comprehensive Flora that needs to be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in bryophytes, not just those of the Austral polar region. Sadly, the cost will preclude its availability to the less affluent or to those researchers from less well-endowed laboratories or libraries or national Antarctic research programs. The format of the text is clearly set out a credit to the insistence and persistence of the senior author

4 but the upper and lower margins could have been a little more generous. As with some other recent publications from Cambridge, a highly regarded publishing house, I am disappointed by the quality control of the colour plates. This lack of attention to colour (most are too blue) and clarity both aspects easily corrected ought to have been addressed by the production staff. The Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica has been a long time in its gestation but, now that the end product has been released, it has certainly been worth the wait. In its comprehensive treatment of the historical collections, examination of available specimens, reference to original descriptions and type collections, comprehensive illustrations, and wide ranging discussion of similar or related species, this is truly a benchmark Flora, without peer. This is an essential and most comprehensive Flora that needs to be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in bryophytes, not just those of the Austral polar region. Prof. R.D.Seppelt Principal Research Scientist Australian Antarctic Division

5 The Bryologist Vol. 112, 2009 Antarctic mosses Reviewed by JAMES R. SHEVOCK Department of Botany, California Academy of Sciences 55 Music Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park San Francisco, California USA Ochyra, R., R. I. Lewis-Smith and H. Bednarek-Ochyra The Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica. Cambridge University Press. 685 pp. + xvii and 42 plates [ISBN hardback]. In English. 125 ($US or equivalent, but may be less from internet suppliers), Few bryologists are likely to have the opportunity to venture to Antarctica so this magnificently produced moss flora will have to serve as the next best option. While many bryologists will find the cost to acquire this moss flora ranging from well beyond one s comfort level to exorbitant, it is, nonetheless, worthy of investment. Read on. Before this book arrived for review I was already excited about the task at hand since I have in my library a copy of The Moss Flora of King George Island by Ryszard Ochrya (1998). I ve now gone through this new moss flora cover to cover and I am 1

6 impressed with the care and attention to detail that the authors have spent on its contents. The book is rather large with dimensions of 22 cm x 28 cm x 3.5 cm, yet there is no wasted space among its pages with text extending to within a few mm of the top and bottom page margin. The binding and paper are of a high quality standard. The beginning of the book contains a set of Roman numeral pages that address taxonomic and nomenclatural novelties, a forward, preface, and acknowledgments. The first 58 pages contain five chapters which include an introduction, history of muscological investigations in Antarctica, terrestrial environment and moss ecology of Antarctica, diversity and phytogeography of the moss flora and background to the flora. These 58 introductory pages are jammed full of important information and provides the context for the flora that follows. I found this section of this work to be exceptionally well written. The next 600+ pages contain the systematic account of the taxa followed by a glossary, references, and index to Latin plant names. The references section is extremely detailed with nearly 2000 entries. This section provides a remarkable assemblage of literature related to Antarctic mosses. A set of color plates are inserted between pages There are 36 half page photographs and six full-page color plates. While these plates provide many landscape views, most images are of moss communities. These photographs offer a glimpse of the open and barren terrain of Antarctica. I was particularly moved by an image of an Andreaea community (closed stand) covering an area of approximately 1 ha! To me, however, many of the images are rather dark colored, therefore they lack crisp detail. The moss community images generally have better color contrast than the landscape 2

7 images. This may be a result of a lack of quality control during the printing of the plates. It is the only item in this flora that I would rate as average. The majority of this work is the systematic account of taxa and the information provided is comprehensive and highly informative. The Antarctic moss flora contains 111 species and two varieties, distributed among 10 orders, 17 families and 55 genera. The four largest families include Grimmiaceae (8 genera, 23 species), Pottiaceae (10 genera, 16 species), Bryaceae (4 genera, 14 species) and Dicranaceae (5 genera, 10 species). These four families account for over 50 percent of the moss flora of Antarctica. This flora is dominated by acrocarpous species as would be expected of a relatively cold and dry climate. Schistidium with 13 species is the largest moss genus in Antarctica and Bryum s.l. with 8 taxa in second place. Thirty-four genera are represented by a single species making nearly 1/3 of the flora relatively easy to identify and only 10 genera have 3 or more species. Based on a detailed review of specimens, the number of taxa endemic to Antarctica has decreased to only ten species. The conspectus of classification used in this moss flora (chapter 6, pp 59-63) provides a quick reference since this flora is organized around classes, orders, and families and, therefore, not displayed in alphabetical order. Species within genera and genera within families are not in alphabetical order either. All keys reference the numbered sequence where taxa appear in the flora making it easy to use although many bryologists would probably just prefer listing genera and then the species within them in alphabetical order. The conceptual design, layout, and content organization are evident throughout this flora. Each species account contains a highly detailed description, a full-page illustration, discussion, reproduction in Antarctica, habitat, world range, distribution in Antarctica, and concludes with all specimens 3

8 examined. Clearly devoting nearly 5 pages per species is indeed unique in any moss flora. At the end of each family entry is a discussion on species excluded from the flora. Identification keys are also an important feature of any flora. Keys, where applicable, are provided for classes, subclasses, orders, genera, and species. In this flora the pairing of numbered couplet choices alternates with the next couplet pairing so there is a considerable savings of space from ongoing indents to accommodate additional couplet pairs. I found this arrangement of key design and display to be both visually pleasing and easy to use. In the key to the genera of Antarctic mosses only one of the 91 couplets refers to sporophytic characters as the principal lead feature although gametophytic characters are also provided in that couplet, therefore, all genera of Antarctic mosses can be determined with only vegetative material. In review of the species keys, again, vegetative characters are overwhelmingly favored. Most of the keys to classes and orders, however, rely heavily on sporophytic characters (especially peristome morphology). For a moss flora of this size, I was initially surprised to see that 52 species in nine families reported for Antarctica are excluded; nearly 50 percent of the total number of species now confirmed for this flora. These excluded taxa are distributed among nine families but more than half of them are members of the Grimmiaceae, Pottiaceae and Bryaceae. Not surprising, it is misidentified collections within Bryum, Grimmia, Schistidium and Syntrichia that account for many of these erroneous historic Antarctic records and published reports. 4

9 The species illustration plates are simply wonderful and add significantly to the value and utility of this work. The consistent quality of the illustrations within this moss flora rank among the best I have ever seen. Every species receives a full page illustration. Besides having all of the diagnostic features clearly displayed, each plate is artistically designed. Plate layout is visually pleasing by utilizing all of the available space without the illustration looking cluttered. Every acrocarpous moss presented in this flora (96 species) has leaf cross-sections in the plate design and a few of the 17 pleurocarpous mosses receive cross sections too. The illustration plates created by Halina Bednarek- Ochyra add measurably to the visual appearance of this moss flora. The map figures are also well designed, clear, and informative. The authors have resisted the one size fits all map template to display distribution. Rather, a series of map projections are utilized. Maps selected display both the global and Antarctic distribution for each species. Many more detailed maps also contain insets to display either the Antarctic or global distribution. All in all, this moss flora contains 275 figures. In conclusion, this moss flora is simply stunning and I rate it 9.5 out of 10. I m convinced I will be referring to this moss flora frequently since all but 10 species in Antarctica occur in other parts of the world, especially in the polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere. There is much valuable information captured here in one place and I know I will consult these illustrations frequently. At a minimum, bryologists should insist that their favorite biological library, museum, or herbarium obtain a copy. However, I also suggest that bryologists with an interest in species occurring in cold dry 5

10 biomes obtain a copy too. Yes, this moss flora is pricy but works of this caliber and scientific merit are probably produced in rather small print runs and acquiring it in the future once it becomes out-of-print may be an even greater expenditure. Moss floras of this quality are relatively rare. The authors should be most pleased of their achievement. Another moss flora covering Antarctic mosses is unlikely to ever be produced and I think it would be nearly impossible to improve on this current version. Therefore, I recommend you obtain a copy of the Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica for your library now. Literature Cited Ochrya, R. (1998). The moss flora of King George Island, Antarctica. W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow. 6

11 Editorial Manager(tm) for Journal of Bryology Manuscript Draft Manuscript Number: JBR990 Title: Book Review R.Ochyra, R.I. Lewis Smith and H. Bednarek-Ochyra. The Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2008, pp xvii + 685, 275 line drawings and maps, plus 42 colour plates. Hardback. 283 x 224 mm. ISBN Article Type: Book Review Corresponding Author: Dr Philip Lightowlers, Corresponding Author's Institution: none First Author: Philip Lightowlers Order of Authors: Philip Lightowlers; Philip Lightowlers

12 Manuscript Click here to download Manuscript: Antarctic moss flora.doc BOOK REVIEW R.Ochyra, R.I. Lewis Smith and H. Bednarek-Ochyra. The Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2008, pp xvii + 685, 275 line drawings and maps, plus 42 colour plates. Hardback. 283 x 224 mm. ISBN Few continents can boast a moss flora so beautifully composed and executed as this. Antarctica or the Antarctic Botanical Zone to be precise, because we must include many of the continent s closest islands and archipelagos can claim only 111 moss species and two varieties. But mosses along with lichens are the dominant land plants at these extreme latitudes, where their remarkable physiology and adaptation allow them to survive conditions that make most life wither and freeze. The flora begins with an introduction to the botanical exploration of the continent, and though Antarctica is now not so remote as once it was, the tale is a remarkable one. Early whaling expeditions brought back the first mosses at the beginning of the nineteenth century, but it was Joseph Hooker who was the first botanist to make collections when he visited the Antarctic Peninsula on the James Clark Ross expedition of Many nations followed with scientific exploratory expeditions and the collections made were worked on by a number of botanists including William Wilson, Jules Cardot, Carl Mueller of Halle and a host of others. Many moss species were described in fact, far too many. The task became, by the mid twentieth century, one of tracking down these often poorly described species and working out which ones were to be synonymised.

13 It is a task to which Ryszard Ochyra has contributed hugely and it is satisfying that this painstaking work has now been fully documented in this beautiful volume. Halina Bedenarek-Ochyra has provided abundant and excellent line drawings. The taxa are accessed with useful keys and the information provided on each is comprehensive and wide ranging, including the taxonomy and synonymy, reproduction, ecology and world distribution. The Antarctic range of each taxon is mapped and specimens examined cited. The field notes on each species and the chapter on the ecology have no doubt received a major input from Ron Lewis Smith who has made the study of Antarctic plant communities his life s work. There is also an excellent chapter describing these communities and illustrating the habitats with well chosen colour plates. So it is that those of us who have never ventured to the extreme south can begin to imagine bryologising in these exciting places. There is mention too of some of the mysteries that Antarctic bryology provides. Examples include the deep water mosses of the unbelievably clear continental Antarctic lakes species which elsewhere in the world are entirely terrestrial. Plagiothecium orthocarpum grows at depths of up to 32 metres in the lakes of the Schirmacher Oasis in Dronning Maud Land at 70º S. Needless to say, its growth form in this habitat is rather different than when it is found growing in more hospitable terrestrial places, but its specific characteristics are reassuringly retained. Pohlia wilsonii is another terrestrial moss found growing in underwater towers up to 60 centimetres tall in Enderby Land at 69º S. While Bryum pseudotriquetrum takes the record in growing at depths of up to 90 metres in the permanently icecovered Lake Vanda in southern Victoria Land at 77º S.

14 It is instructive that the physiological flexibility of these plants is so great that they can survive and reproduce in habitats quite different from those in which they presumably have evolved. There are also the subpsammic literally under sand mosses which colonise fine rock debris made wet and stable by the summer melt water. As the habitat dries they become covered by windblown sand and silt to a depth of several centimetres but nevertheless continue to grow under this insulating layer. The low levels of light produce some weird and difficult to identify growth forms of Bryum, Ceratodon, Hennediella, and Bryoerythrophyllum species. Extreme climates do, of course, produce extreme growth modifications in mosses which can frustrate taxonomy. This is one of the particular lessons of Antarctic bryology. William Wilson surely one of the most competent European bryologists of his day described some of Joseph Hooker s specimens as a new species Bryum antarcticum. In fact, the plants belong to the bipolar species Hennediella heimii which the current authors note is the most variable and polymorphous species in the Antarctic. Indeed, the leaf cells of this moss can appear completely smooth with no papillae and lozenge-shaped, just like the characteristic cells of a Bryum leaf. Now that the taxonomy of Antarctic mosses has come of age, it is at last possible to make some sense of their phytogeography. The $64,000 dollar question is do Antarctic endemics really exist? Or is the flora just recently derived from neighbouring southern South America? The book reveals that there are endemics, but they number only eleven and we include in this three which just gain a footing on the subantarctic island of South Georgia. This is barely 10% of the flora a very low proportion. And this contrasts on

15 one hand with 101 endemic lichen species, and on the other, with a complete absence of endemic hepaticae. The rest of the moss flora consists almost equally of species also found in Arctic regions with a bipolar distribution, and of species found in south temperate and subantarctic regions. Many of the genera represented are cosmopolitan and most bryologists would find them familiar. However, the authors note that Antarctic endemic species are in the main distinctive and likely to be ancient, pre-pleistocene relicts that somehow survived the exceptionally severe Antarctic climate of that period on isolated nunataks peaking out of the ice. It is perhaps therefore not surprising that all of the endemic mosses are saxicolous species, and seven belong to the genus Schistidium. It is satisfying that one is the widespread Syntrichia sarconeurum (previously Sarconeurum glaciale), a remarkable plant never known to fruit but with unusual swollen deciduous leaf tips. Although S.glaciale had been synonymised with a similar but rare South American species, the authors have now demonstrated its distinct identity and therefore that its endemic status must be maintained. It should perhaps be regarded as the emblematic moss of Antarctica. Philip Lightowlers

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19 TAXON Vol. 58, No. 1, 2009 Ochyra, Ryszard, Lewis Smith, Ronald & Bednarek-Ochyra, Halina. Dec The illustrated moss flora of Antarctica. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge ( xvii, 685 pp., [24] pp. pls. (col.), text ill. (B&W), 283x225 mm, ISBN HB, US$ The illustrated moss flora of Antarctica (IMFA) covers all land and adjoining ice shelves south of latitude 60 S (p. 1). While that land area is about 50% more than that of Europe, only 0.3% is clear of ice. Nearly all of the 111 moss species and 2 varieties (in 55 genera and 17 families) described in IMFA are restricted to the Antarctic Peninsula, which juts toward South America, and the sub- Antarctic islands. Only 16 species are found on the Antarctic mainland away from that peninsula, where most of the ice-free land occurs, and where, incidentally, occur only two vascular plants (the grass Deschampsia antarctica and the pink Colobanthus quitensis). IMFA's companion volume is Halina Bednarek-Ochyra & al.'s The liverwort flora of Antarctica (2000; for review see D.H. Norris, Taxon 50: ), which includes only 27 species in 19 genera and 12 families, In some respects, one can hardly expect to encounter, in Antarctica, areas rich in bryophytes, but the recent concerns with global warming suggest that area as one of special interest for the study of poleward migration of the biota. Ochyra & al. provide a bench mark that will allow documentation of any new introductions from the north. They cite at least one documented new introduction: Funaria hygrometric. Their work includes, for each species, a section on reproduction in Antarctica that should allow documentation of any changes in vigor of moss species as the area warms. A major prelude to IMFA is Ryszard Ochyra's 1998 work (The moss flora of King George Island, Antarctica; for review see D.H. Norris, Taxon 48: ), where 58 of the 111 species in IMFA are cited, many under different names. The Ochyra team has been unusually active in producing new generic placements for the plants that they have studied. Ryszard Ochyra, Jan Żarnowiec & Halina Bednarek-Ochyra (2003. Census catalogue of Polish mosses; for review see D.H. Norris, Taxon 53: ) describe most of the novel generic names used in IMFA and in the 2003 work defend such names as Bucklandiella, Dryptodon, Guembelia, Hymenoloma, Orthogrimmia, and Sciuro-hypnum. Another novelty in IMFA is the return of species from Anisothecium to Dicranella. (There is a 4-page list of taxonomic and nomenclatural novelties.) Among the interesting generalizations in IMFA is the skewing of species toward acrocarpous mosses (94 of 111 species), and the unusual diversity of rheophytic genera and species--the 13 species of Schistidium make it by far the most diverse genus in the flora. Additional features of IMFA include the glossary and comprehensive, 58-page bibliography. However, the outstanding feature is the 42 color photos with scenes from Antarctica and close-ups of the moss flora. Eleven of the species from the flora are shown in photos detailed enough to allow

20 identification. Landscape pictures show moss mats alleged in some cases to show single species mats that may cover several hectares. It is of special interest to see such a flora of small diversity allowing for great expanses of coverage without close niche partitioning. Finally, not to be slighted are the 275 B&W figures consisting of maps and excellent drawings, many of the latter full-page plates. The quality and quantity of the work of the Ochyra duo never ceases to amaze me. Teamed with Ronald Lewis Smith of the British Antarctic Survey, the Ochyras provide a prototype for exceptional floras. I strongly recommend this book despite the very high price. -- Daniel H. Norris, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, U.S.A. <dhnorris@berkeley.edu>

21 The Bryological Times, No. 127, May 2009 Ochyra, R., Lewis-Smith, R. I. & Bednarek-Ochyra, H. 2008: The Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica. xvii pp., incl. 275 figures and 42 colour photograph plates. Cambridge University Press. Hardback, ISBN Advertised price postage (weight 2.2 kg). Information available at Even a most detailed vascular plant flora of the Antarctica, with two species, would perhaps not be very hefty, but this moss flora is truly something else... Stanley Greene is a major figure in the survey of the Antarctic moss flora. As is discussed in the Foreword as well as Preface in the present volume, he planned to publish a definitive taxonomic account of the flora, but mainly due to waning of the necessary financial support for taxonomic work, his plans never materialized. In the Preface the authors indicate that this flora was, indeed, inspired by the initiative of the late Greene, so his spirit is still strongly present. The book begins with a list of Contents, followed by a four-page list of Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Novelties, including new synonyms and typifications. After the Foreword and Preface follows an Introduction, which describes the agenda and aims as follows: "The objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive account of the mosses of Antarctica based on critical assessment of specimens in most of the world's major herbaria with Antarctic holdings, and on ecological data for habitats and communities. Individual taxa have been compared with type specimens wherever possible, and with relevant material from other parts of the world. We have sought the expertise of many bryologists with specialist knowledge in particular genera". The total number of examined specimens was c an admirable effort by the authors. The concept of Antarctic employed here comprises all land and adjoining ice shelves south of latitude 60. The landmass is c. 14 square km (1.5 times the area of Europe!), but only c. 0.3 % of it is seasonally ice-free and thus potentially moss-prone. The biogeographic zones - continental and maritime - are defined and described in some detail, and the geobotanical zones are presented in a table. The Introduction ends with relatively brief but quite adequate chapters on the climate and geology. The illustrated History of Muscological Investigations in Antarctica (pp. 9-26) is enjoyable reading and contains tables of the published moss collections from between 1829 and 1941, and of the moss taxa published from the Antarctic between 1833 and Then follows Terrestrial Environment and Moss Ecology of Antarctica (pp ) - a detailed account that adds considerable value to this work, as compared with several "regular" floras. The next part is Diversity and Phytogeography of the Moss Flora (pp ). Numerous taxonomic treatments as well as modern revisions and monographs of the mosses are listed here. Under the subheading "Diversity and species richness" I found the information I had looked for in more obvious places (such as back cover or Introduction): in the Flora area there is a total of 111 species within 55 genera and 17 families. This part also has valuable information in tables, such as the altitudinal range, frequency and fertility of the species. The flora is divided into phytogeographical elements that are discussed. The beautiful colour plates placed here display the landscape, habitats,

22 moss vegetation and individual species. A two-page, interesting account of the origin of the Antarctic moss flora ends this part. Background to the Flora (pp ) provides the aims and objectives in a more detailed manner. The subheading Arrangement of text explains the rationale and organization of the taxonomic accounts. All descriptions are detailed and supported by full-page line drawing plates and distribution maps, the latter also displaying the global ranges of the species. The core of the book is of course the flora itself, titled Systematic Accounts of the Taxa (pp ). The classification is derived from the latest systems but has some modifications based on the authors own ideas. That is good. In terms of species numbers the largest families are the acrocarpous Grimmiaceae (23 spp., especially Schistidium with 13 spp.), Pottiaceae (16 spp.), and Bryaceae (14 spp.), together about half of the flora. There is a long (more than 7 pp.) key to the genera, in which some genera of course key out several times. On p. 72 there is also a key to the three classes of the Antarctic Bryophyta I am not sure how necessary or practical that is. The taxon descriptions themselves leave nothing to be desired, especially when the line drawings are admirably precise, informative and aesthetic too! Synonymies and type citations are given under the accepted species names. The specific descriptions are followed by chromosome numbers, and separate paragraphs entitled Discussion, Reproduction in Antarctica, Habitat, World range, Distribution in Antarctica, and last a list of the selected specimens examined. The Glossary (pp ) is a necessary part, and also provides the synonyms as well as antonyms (terms with opposite meaning). As in several other glossaries, the origin of vaginula is here wrong (my regular objection) it is not derived from the venter of the archegonium but mainly from the subtending receptacular tissue. The list of References is apparently exhaustive and runs from p. 607 to 664. The last part is Index to Latin Plant Names. It is truly difficult to find areas in this book to be critical of, no matter how hard one tries. It is a treat that I believe every bryologist can appreciate and enjoy. Briefly, probably the best moss flora I have ever seen or been privileged enough to own. Warm thanks must go to the authors for the great effort and accomplishment and also to Cambridge University Press for publishing such a bryological and cultural milestone. Johannes Enroth

23 Polish Polar Research, Vol. 30, 2009 Ryszard Ochyra, Ronald I. Lewis Smith, Halina Bednarek Ochyra The illustrated moss flora of Antarctica. xviii pp plates. Hardback, size: cm. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. Price: (US $ ). ISBN Publication date: 13 th November Antarctica is a very inhospitable continent with only ca 0.3% of its surface being free of ice and snow in summer. The harsh ecological conditions and especially the severe climate are responsible for the relative low species diversity and weakly diversified vegetation. Terrestrial communities of the Antarctic biome are mainly composed of lichenized fungi and mosses, while native vascular flora is represented by only two species, Deschampsia antarctica Desv. and Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl. Antarctica was the final continent to be discovered and initially it did not attract interest of professional botanists. The first observations on its plant cover were made by participants of sealing expeditions from the United States of North America and United Kingdom. James Eights, a naturalist to the U.S. Exploring Expedition, collected the first two species of mosses, namely Polytrichastrum alpinum (Hedw.) G.L.Sm. and Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske in the years on King George Island. The true biological exploration of Antarctica started at the end of the nineteenth century when a number national expeditions were organized to this continent which brough back botanical collections, including bryophytes. The entire knowledge on mosses of this icy continent is now summarized in The Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica, which was just published by the highly regarded publishing house, Cambridge University Press. It is the crowning achievement of devoted and hard work for many years of the eminent Polish bryologist Professor Ryszard Ochyra assisted by his wife, Docent Halina Bednare-Ochyra, in the polar regions of the Southern Hemisphere and this opus is apparently the pinacle of their bryological career and presumably their life s fulfilment. This is the first comprehensive treatment of the muscoflora of the Antarctic biome. Foreword to this remarkable work was written by Sir Martin Holdgate, former Chief Biologist of the British Antarctic Survey and past Director General of IUCN The World Conservation Union. In the introduction to the Flora the main features of the continent, including biogeographic zones, climate and geology, are presented. It is followed by the detailed history of muscological investigations in Antarctica, accompanied by the illustrations of researchers of mosses of this region, images of the title pages of the most important bryological publications and photographs of moss specimens originating from the oldest collections including some type specimens. A valuable addition to this chapter is a very useful chronological synopsis of the moss taxa published from the Antarctic with their current taxonomic status. In next chapter terrestrial plant communities and ecology of mosses in the Antarctica is presented. Species diversity and phytogeography of the Antarctic moss flora are detailed in Chapter 4. A valuable part of the book constitute 42 colour photographs which present landscapes, main habitat types, bryophyte communities and individual moss species. The main body of the book, amounting to 531 pages, is occupied by the systematic accounts of the taxa. It is preceded by the conspectus of classification and the dichotomous key to the genera of Antarctic mosses. Keys to the classes of the Bryophyta, the subclasses of the Bryopsida and the orders of the Dicranidae as well as the keys to the genera within families are give, whereas key to species are presented within the genera concerned. The Flora is based on a very high number of examined

24 specimens. More than 10,000 specimens from recent and historical collections gathered in various regions of Antarctica have been studied. It is necessary to emphasize that almost all type specimens of names used for Antarctic taxa have been located and examined. In addition, all accepted species names have been typified, including many oldest moss names described by J. Hedwig and S. E. Bridel. Location and examination of herbarium specimens is very laborious and time-consuming task because it was necessary to consult collections that are housed in 34 largest world herbaria. However, the collections from the British Antarctic Survey herbarium in Cambridge, UK (AAS) was of primary importance since they yielded most distributional data. During nearly 180 years of the bryological exploration f of Antarctica some 308 taxa of moss were reported. In the result of detailed and very critical studies the current moss flora of this biome consists of 111 species and two varieties which belong within 55 genera and 17 families. The Flora provides detailed descriptions of the taxa of all ranks. The species descriptions are very expanded. Apart from species name, homotypic and heterotypic synonyms with type citation of data from the protologue and labels of the type specimens are given. The morphological and anatomical description of gametophyte and sporophyte is very accurate and exhaustive and it is followed by discussion which provides information on diagnostic characters, morphological diversity, taxonomic problems, etc. Also, observation on the sexual and asexual reproduction, detailed ecological data mainly based on own authors field experience are provided. Global and Antarctic distribution of each taxon are discussed in greater detail and they are presented on dot maps. At the end of the treatment of each species a list of selected specimens examined is given. All the species are beautifully illustrated with full-page plates of comprehensive line drawings. Illustrations prepared by Halina Bednarek-Ochyra are as usual on highest scientific and artistic standard, and along with the detailed descriptions concerned should facilitate unmistakable determination of the species. The Flora contributes many taxonomic and nomenclatural novelties, including four new combinations, 120 new synonyms, eight new epitypes, 216 new lectotypes and two new neotypes. The book is closed with a bryological glossary, references (2089 items in total) and an index to Latin plant names. To sum up, The Illustrated Moss Flora of Antarctica is an excellent and outstanding original scientific work which should be in a library of each professional botanist. It represents the highest standard of the editorial work which was made by the first author and excellent printing quality. I have no hesitation to say that it is the most comprehensive bryological treatment which I have ever seen. I am sure that the Flora will be very helpful not only for bryologists but all researchers of the vegetation of southern cold regions. Jan ŻARNOWIEC Department of Ecology and Nature Conservation University of Bielsko-Białaj ul. Willowa 2, Bielsko-Biała jzarnowiec@ath.bielsko.pl